Unfortunately, cancer is more common than ever before. There are so many different types of cancer, and there isn't one organ in the body that isn't susceptible to the ravenous disease. One type of cancer that is very common is colon cancer. Nearly 150,000 cases of colon cancer will be diagnosed each year, and many people will die from the disease. There are many forms of treatment for colon cancer, but how each person responds depends on the individual case.
What Is Colon Cancer?
Another name for colon cancer is colorectal cancer. Colon cancer is the second most common cancer and is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Colon cancer involves the colon, the rectum and, most often, the appendix. Colon cancer is when cancerous cells develop in the colon. It is an aggressive cancer that will not normally stay in one area. It can easily spread to the lymph nodes, which then help it move easily to other organs.
Signs of Metastatic Colon Cancer
Signs of colon cancer depend on where the cancer, or main tumor, is located. Most commonly, with colon cancer, the tumor is located somewhere in the colon. If this is the case, there will usually be changes in bowel habits. One big sign is blood in the stool. The blood either can be bright red or can be very dark. There can be feelings of constipation or a feeling of the bowel's not emptying completely. The patient can experience cramping, excessive gas or bloating. Many colon cancer patients experience a narrowing of their stool, or skinny stools. They will experience fatigue and weight loss for unexplained reasons.
Tests for Colon Cancer
When a patient seeks medical treatment for these symptoms, he will probably be referred to a gastroenterologist. The doctor may first perform a digital rectal exam to see if he feels a tumor with his finger. If he suspects anything abnormal, he will probably then order a colonoscopy. This involves inserting a scope into the rectum so the doctor can see inside the rectum and into the colon and lower intestines. If any tumors are seen, he can take a tissue sample and send them to the lab to check for cancerous material. He will also order an occult test. This is where the stool is examined under a microscope for blood. He may also order a lower GI series, which is a test involving dye. The dye helps the doctor to see the lower gastroenterology tract more clearly.
Determine Treatments for Colon Cancer
If cancer is found, the gastroenterologist will refer the patient to an oncologist. An oncologist is a cancer specialist. An oncologist knows what types of treatments work best for what types of cancers, as well as which treatment is needed during different stages of the cancer. Normally cancer is found in one of four stages; I, II, III or IV. If the cancer has already metastasized to other organs and is already in a higher stage of development, the doctor may need to be very aggressive with his treatment. If the cancer is localized, he may not need an aggressive treatment plan just yet.
Types of Treatments for Colon Cancer
For colon cancer patients, the first step is often surgery. The doctor usually needs to remove the tumor along with any other affected areas. He will usually order a combination of chemotherapy and radiation, especially for patients who are at high risk for the cancer spreading, or if cancer affects more than one organ. There are also medications that target cancer cells that would normally spread quickly. These medications are Avastin, Erbitux and Vectibix. They can be given with chemo and radiation, and their job is to stop the cancerous tumors from developing new blood vessels. The blood vessels allow oxygen and nutrients to get to the tumors, thus letting the tumors grow.
Side Effects of Colon Cancer Treatments
All medications and treatments for cancer have the potential to produce side effects. Even the surgery can have a negative impact on the patient. Removal of part of the intestines sometimes leads to infection or a colostomy. Radiation and chemotherapy can produce extreme nausea, vomiting, hair loss, fatigue and low resistance to infection. Avastin, Erbitux and Vectibix also have potential side effects. The most common are nose bleeds, high blood pressure, too much protein in the urine, fatigue and trouble breathing, depending on each patient.
Survival Rate of Colon Cancer Patients
The survival rate of colon cancer depends a lot on which stage the cancer is found in. For Stage I patients, the survival rate can be in excess of 80 percent. But for Stage III, the survival rate drops to 59 percent. The earlier the cancer is detected, the better the chance of removing the tumors and surrounding cancerous cells. One thing that has been determined to increase survival rate is exercise. For those who have been diagnosed with colon cancer, getting plenty of exercise seems to increase the survival rate. Taking good care of oneself is extremely important not only to fighting off the disease, but to keeping it away.
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